Sewing machine



Filed Dec. 21, 1946 March 28, 1950 c. c. SMITH SEWING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet l CLARENCE. c.-s mTH BY 7 s ATTO March 28, 1950 c. c. SMITH 2,502,350

SEWING MACHINE Filed Dec. 21, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 R. CLARENCE C. SMITH March 28, 1950 c.c.sM1TH 2,50

SEWING MACHINE Filed Dec. 21, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR. CLARENCE C. SMITH March 28, 1950 c. c. SMITH 2,502,350

SEWING MACHINE Filed D60. 21, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 138 IN VEN TOR. CLARENCE C. SMTH BY zi z ATTO March 28, 1950 c. 0. SMITH 2,502,350

SEWING MACHINE Filed Dec. 21, 1946 8 Shee-tsSheet 5 1; INVETOR. v *9 CLARENCE QsmTH March 28, 1950 c. c. SMITH 2,502,350

\ SEWING MACHINE Filed Dec. 21, 1946 s sheets-sheet s F'IG.8.

JNVENTOR. CLARENCE. C. SMITH March 28, 1950 c. c. SMITH 2,502,350

SEWING MACHINE Filed Dec. 21, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 11 FIG. IO.

INVENTOR. CLARENCE C. SMITH C. C. SMITH SEWING MACHINE March 28, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Dec. 21, 1946 H R 1 mm. me me C N E R A L C ATTOR Patented Mar. 28, 1950 UNITED E S :RALTE NT ILVOFFICE SEWING MACHINE 'Qlarence-"C. Smith, Chicago, 111.; assign'or --to Union-Special Machine Company; Ghicago; 111., a a;.-c0rporation of .Illinois Application December 21, 1946,,Serial No. 717,755

7 Claims.

The present"invention-relates *to sewing ma- *'chines, and more" particularly, to' a- --lubricating system therefor.

'The invention is' parti'cularly applicable'to sewing machinesi of the lock stitch type having a rotaryhook as part bf thestitch 'forming mechanism; andha'ving 'anbVerhanging-head 'inwhich are "mounted-"various mo'ving parts, including "needle" reciprocating means, thread "take -up means. 'presser bafmeansf and driving means.

' out appreciable attentionfroni theop'erator.

Anotherobje'ctof the'inventi'on is to provide a simple means for. delivering lubricant to bearing surfaces within; the" head whilethe' machine is in operationbut togavbid having'all or a large quantity '01 the lubricant drain into the head while the machine-is'not operating.

It is desirable to avbidenjtendency for 'oil to leak from the head along the needlebar'or'presser bar onto thew'ork; orderto avoid such leakagaand' in" orderi :to replenish thesupply of "oil 'in"reservoirs"which comprise a "part of the lubricating Systemfafe'ature' of the invention :is

that means are provided for returiiing'oil from the bottom "0f"the head 'to the lubricant'reservoirs.

'Another feature of theinvention is 'that'lubrication of the'bearings' beginsas' soon as the machine isstarted; andlubricantis supplied at the rate required, atvarious operatingspeeds.

A further feature 'of-the'invention is that the head 'lubricationisystemfis one" of" three separate oiling systems in the""machine. Since "oil from one system" does "not :,I go into the? other systems, special types of 'oil oan'be'u'sedin the various 's'ysterns suitable to the respective requirements.

The above=mentioned, as well asother objects,

together with *the many advantagesobtainable by the practice ofthe-presentinvention; "will "be readily comprehended by persons ski11ed in" the art'by reference 'to the following detailed *de 'scription takenin, eonnectiorrwith the:;annexed drawings whichrespebtivelydescribe and 'i11us-" ,"trate a" preferred embodiment of --the-' invention,

and wherein I Fig 1 is?a"sectional view-ofi the machinei the "section" being" 'tak'err" in- 1 a--vertic'al --plane-passing through the axis of the rotary -th-read -takeup "shaft.The-"position of=--this -p1-ane is-shown in 2.

. Fig; 2 is amend-view of'the machine-as seen from" the leftwf -Fig. 1, vvith' acover-plateremoved-{the view chiefly-in elevation, butportions of the" basebeing shown-in-*se"ction, thesection being taken in a vertical plane the positionof which is'indieated at Zin Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is "an -end'--elevationa1- *view 'of the maohineas's'e'en fronithe right-of Fig. 1. The combinedhand 'wheel and-belt "pulley has been removed in this-figure for-convenience of illustration. v

'Fig: 4 is an-enlarged front elevationalview of the overhanging head; showing-certain details of the rotary thread takeup.

'"Figi 5"is a sectional viewthrough the head; the section beingtaken '--in---the plane 5-5 indicated in Fig. 1.

"Fig: 6 is .an enlarged"sectional*view through the j head showing *pump 'm'eans therein, the section being'taken-irran irregular p1ane'66, asindi- "cated inFigi2.

' Fig. 7isan enlarged sectional view through the head, takenin the-vertical plane 'l-L-indicated in'Fig. 2; showing the wick for transmitting oil within thehead; ,alongwith other parts.

'Fig; 8- is an end elevationalview showingthe head of amachih having a reciprocating thread take-up me'ansir'istead ofthe rotary thread takeup means shownin earlier figures.

Fig.1!) 'is a det'ailview showing areciprocating thread take-up=rneans; in end elevation.

FigfllO is" a"sectional view' through the head "illustrated in 8; thejsection: being taken in Fig. 11 is a "cross-sectional viewshowing cert'tain'interiorpartsfof the head'shownin Fig. 10,

the "section beingtaken; inthe plane I lil of that figure.

Fig. 12 is a detail-view showing the reciprocat- -ing' thread take-upmeans andparts for actuating samefin front elevation.

i 13' is a orizontaiseetionh view of the base, the position bf the-section"being approximately as indicated in Fig. 1. Oil is omitted from the reservoirs in this view for convenience.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and '1, inclusive, of the drawings, there is illustrated a machine of the general type disclosed in the patent to Christensen et al., No. 2,113,572, granted April 12, 1938, having applied thereto certain modifications, including the present invention. The illustrated machine has a main frame comprising a base portion 25 fitted with a throat plate 21. Mounted on the right-hand end of the base portion there is a hollow vertical standard 22 attached by knurled-head bolts 23 to the base portion. The standard 22 has a hollow arm 24 extending laterally from the upper end of the standard so as to overhang the base, the arm having a hollow v head 25 at its free end. Within the needle head there is mounted in suitable bushings a vertically reciprocable needle bar 28 carrying at its lower end a needle 30 adapted to be passed repeatedly through the work in the course of forming a seam.

As shown in Fig. 2, the head'25 is provided with a generally vertical bushing 29 mounted in its lower wall, and a generally vertical knurled headed bushing 3| threaded into its upper wall, aligned with the bushing 29. There is provided a presser bar 32, guided for vertical movement in said bushings, and carrying at its lower end a presser foot 34.

Mounted on the presser bar 32 is a collar 36, and there is provided a coiled spring 35 engaging the lower end of the bushings 31 and the upper end of the collar 36 so as to urge the pressure bar 32 downward to carry the presser foot 34 into engagement with the work on the throat plate 2!.

Also slidably mounted on the presser bar 32 is a collar 40, below the collar 36, and pivotally attached to this collar 40 is an upwardly extending lever 42, provided with a generally vertical slot 43. Journalled for rocking in portions of the head 26 and the standard 22, and extending longitudinally through the arm 24, is a shaft 44. Extending radially from this shaft through the rear wall of the arm 24 near its junction with the standard 22 is an arm 46, to the free end of which is pivotally attached a downwardly extending rod 48. Extending radially within the head 25 from the shaft 44, and rigidly, attached r to same by a screw 50, is an arm 5|, carrying at its free end a stud screw 52 which extends into and cooperates with the slot 43 of the arm 42.

The operator may, by some means such as a treadle orknee press, move the rod 48 downwardly, thereby rocking the shaft 44 in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Fig. 2, and,.by the cooperation of the arm 5|, the arm .2, and the collar 40, thereby cause the presser bar 32 to be moved upwardly against'the action of the spring 38.

Mounted on the front of the head 26 is a thread-tensioning means generally indicated at 53, of the type described in patent application Serial No. 499,483, filed August 21, 1943, in the name of Charles F. Rubel, and now matured into Patent No. 2,440,615, dated April 27, 1948. This thread-tensioning means includes a pair of clamping discs 54 held together by a spring 55. There is provided a pin 56 projecting inwardly of the head 25 adapted to relieve the pressure of the spring 53 against the discs 54 when the pin 56 is pressed outwardly, inaccordance with details more fully given .in the above-mentioned application Serial No. 499,483. Means are provided for pressing the pin 56 outwardly when the presser foot is lifted, so as to relieve the thread tension. For this purpose the lever 42 is provided with a portion 42a extending toward the front of the machine, that is, toward the right as shown in Fig. 2, and there is a portion or thi lever extending laterally from the portion 42a which has a generally upwardly extending portion 42b, bent toward the left as shown in Fig. 2 so as to provide a slanting surface adapted to engage the pin 55 with a camrning action. When the rod 48 is moved downwardly, thereby raising the lever 42, the portion 42b of the lever 32 is pressed against the pin 56 and drives same outwardly, thereby relieving the tension in the thread in accordance with the principles described in application Serial No. 499,483.

As shown in Fig. l, the machine is provided with a main drive shaft 51, extending longitudinally through the arm 24, and Suitably journalled for rotation in said arm and the standard 22. The head 25 is provided with an oil reservoir 58, and a cavity 60 contaming various needle bar actuating means. A wall 250. separates the reservoir 58 from the right-hand portion of the hollow arm 24, and a wall 26b separates the reservoir 58 and the cavity 60. The shaft 5'1 extends through the reservoir 58, through the wall 25b, and into the cavity 50, being journalled for rotation in a bushing 6| of porous metal, such as oilite, mounted in the wall 261) of the head.

Mounted on the shaft 51 within the cavity 50 is a rotary actuator 62 as shown in Figs. 1 and 7. The rotary actuator may be somewhat like that illustrated in U. S. Patent No. 2,324,598 granted July 20, 1943, to Sauer, except that in the present case it is adapted for use in a machine employing a rotary thread take-up instead of a reciprocating thread take-up. The rotary actuator may conveniently comprise an element 63 mounted on the shaft 51 and secured thereto at an adjusted position by a set screw. The element 63 is adapted for rotative adjusting with respect to the shaft 51 in order to adjust the timing of the machine. In order to aid in securing the element 63 in position, there is provided on the end of the shaft 51 a sector-like element 64, welded or otherwise rigidly attached to the shaft 51. The element 64 is provided with an arcuate slot, not shown, in concentric relation to the axis of the shaft 51. The element 63 is provided with a headed clamp screw 631), as shown in Fig. '1, which passes through said slot in the element 64 and threadedly engages the element 63 to secure said elements in adjusted, fixed relation.

The element 63 carries a crank pin 55, held in place by a set screw. The element 53 is appropriately shaped for counterweighting or dynamic balancing purposes. As the main drive shaft 51 is rotated, the pin 65 is carried in a circular path around the axis of the shaft 51, and means are provided for connecting this pin to the needle bar 28 so as to cause the needle bar to reciprocate vertically. There may be provided a collar 66 mounted on the needle bar 28, and a pin 61 carried by said collar. There is provided a link or pitman 68, the lower end of which is rotatably mounted on the pin 61 and the upper end of which is rotatably carried by the rotary actuator 62. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and '1, the link 68 may be rotatably mounted directly on the pin 65. In other embodiments, such as one which, will be described later in connection with Figs. 8-12, the link 68 is not carried directlyi by the pin 551131113113 carried by a crankzpin which inturn is I carried by" a short arm affixed torthe pin 65. Eithermeans may be usd'inpconnection with-machinesvof the rotary thread takellpztype; such as that shown inlFig. 1, and it is likewise: evident that rotary actuator means of other types maybe employed. Mounted on the mainvshaftwifl outside the machine,- toward' the right as seenin Fig, 1,,is acombined handwheel and belt pulley. Means not shown are providedfor driving thispulley. As a result of the rotation of the; shaft 51 and the cooperation-of the rotary actuator 62-'and;the.link 68, the needle bar. 28 is caused to reciprocate vertically. The

interior; of the head is provided with agenerally shown in Figs. 1 and 13, closed on the bottom by a plate 1.5 and a gasket a, and an outer oil reservoir 16, closed on the bottom by a plate ll and'a gasket 11a. The inner oil reservoir 14 is completely separate from the outer oil reservoir 16; In general the inner oil reservoir supplies lubricant for lubricating the rotary hook of the machine,;as=willbe described-and the outer reservoirsupplies oil 'for lubricating other parts withinthe base. The plates 15 and Ti are secured to,, parts .of the base by appropriate means notshown". The outer oil reservoir 16 extends irom thefrontwallof the machine to the rear wall thereof and transversely throughout virtually the entire width of the base. The inner reservoir is defined by Wall-like portions of the base so as to be located toward the front of the machine asv shown in'Fig. 1'3, and in a position generally-intermediate the left and right-hand ends asviewed inlFigs. 1 and 13. The reservoir PM is divided into a main chamber Ma for holding unfiltered oil; and a smaller chamber 14b for holding filtered oil, by a transverse web or screen of filter material 18-, held in place by suitable means such'asia' clamp 18a, screwed'to the plate 15'.

The base :20 isprovided with an opening 19., ileadingtfrom the work surface to the chamber 14a, through which oil may be introduced into this, chamber. Thisopeningmay be closed by a sheadedscrew 80; lthreadedinto the base. Suitableopeningslare also provided in the base al- .lowing oil to be introduced into the reservoir 16. Fitted intoqan opening in the base 20 and ex- ;tendingdownwardly from the work surface into the reservoirv I4 is a transparent sight gauge 8| of: the type described in United States Patent :2;301,460-granted to Sauer on November 10, 1942, for indicating the level of oil in this. reservoir. The machine is provided with a similar gauge am, for indicating the level of oil in the reser standard 22: isa shaft-85,, on which there is vmounted-a gear 85a cooperating with the gears flitandxfil so asto: transmit power iromthe shaft 6 5'! to theshaft 82; Thereispprovided.within the base an'oil trough or pan '86 havingran' opening 86a,tas-shown in Fig,'3; in thewallthereofbelow ,the surface-of the: oilmin the reservoir 16. Oil

may slowly drain fromathetreservoir' TGIinto the trough 88. When the gear? turns rapidly; most of :the oil is splashed out of the: trough, to avoid excessive-churning, but Lsufficient oil is available? to thewgear .83efor proper lubrication:- of it and gears" and BSld;

The shaft 82 extends through ithe base .to'the rearcfi the inner oil reservoir"; as: shown in1Fig. 13, and to. the left of.'this: reservoir there is mounted'zon the shaft-82 age'ar 81.

Mounted on'the-shaft 82 toi'the' left of the gear 81 is an eccentric 88;:which maybeprovided with suitable means for adjusting its eccentricity. This e'ccentric is a partof the-feeding mean's for advancing the worlnto be described.

Also mounted onivthe shaft-"82 toward its lefthand orouter extremity is an' eccentrico'r crank; not shownin detail, which. is also part of the feeding means; i

' Referring to Fig; 1 mountedin theIleft-hand wauof the base and in a downwardly-extending lug portion of thebase generally in front of the shaft '82 is abushing 90, an'dflmounted in the portion: of the basecomprising the left-hand wall of the inner oilireservoirf'l8 is a bushing 92, axially-aligned with-the bushing 90. The bushings-90 and 92 carry a hollow hookshaft 94; Within the hollow hook shaft th'er'e' is" provided an oil-impelling springo'rhelical vane'tii, of the type described in patent. application Serial No; 6941688; dated sept. 4 1946; Christensen et a1; Mounted on the'sh'a'ft 94tothe right of-the bushing tll is a gear 96' cooperatingwith the" gear 81. The gear ratio'between' the gears 81 and 96 is such that for each revolution of the shaft 82, the gear Bdmake'stwo revolutions. Sucha ratio is providedbecause the stit'ch to beformed requires two revolutions of' the hook shaft during the formation-of a single stitch;

Mountedon t'he shaft 9'4 to the left ofthe' bushing Bil-is a thru st collar 91; This-collan together with thegear 96,- cooperat'esz with the bushing 90 tofprevent' endwise "motion of the shaft 91.

Mounted on the shaft' lfltoward its' left-hand end is a rotary hook member or component' 98. Withinthe 'rotaryhook memberor component 98 there is-mounted a stationary bobbinv case holder Hill; This bobbin caseholderis'provided with a rib having bearing engagement with an internal raceway in the rotary component of the hook. An arm, not shownin-detail, is provided to retain the stationary component-against'rotation. It will be understood that the rotary ho'ok cooperates-with th'eneedle 30 in a conventional manner t oforrrrlock stitches. The'right-hand'end of the bushing92 is closed" with a plug I01 so that there is provided within the bushing 92 acliamber com prising ant oil inlet to the bore of the shaft 94; Eirtendingradially through the bushing 92 from this chamber is an openingJ'lli'. There is mount- .ediin thelbase .a-sleeve-likemember l03- havingla longitudinal bore registering with the opening l102and avertical radial bore, not shown,con'- nectingthelongitudinal bore with an L-shaped .extensiomindicated at l04',:of the-chamber 14b.- This extension is'not shownlin detail. The sleeve 4,03 is-also provided witha-i radial vertical bore'at aspoint near the.:bushing 92 registering with an opening :through .the-= base:into the chamber Mb. 7

Threaded into the sleeve-likennember [Wand-ext 7 tending longitudinally thereofis a needle valve stem I having a portion projecting Outside the front of the machine and adapted for adjustment by the operator for the purpose of regulating the fiow of oil to the hook. In addition to the helical vane '95 for impelling oil toward the hook, there is provided at the left-hand end of the hook shaft 34 oil-transmitting means,.not shown, of the type described in the aforesaid Christensen et a1. application Serial No. 694,688. Reference is made to that application, particularly to the embodi- ,ment shown in Figs. 11, 12, and 13, for further details of operation ofthe hook oiling system in general, which in the present application is different only in that the needle valve is mounted in a sleeve instead of being mounted directly in the base casting.

The machine is provided with work advancing means generally of the type described in Patent No, 2,113,572 granted to Norman V. Christensen and Charles F. Rubel on April 12, 1938, and Patent No. 2,035,508 granted to George Sauer and Clarence C. Smith on March 31, 1936. Reference is made to Figs. 2 and 13. As part of this work feeding means, the machine is provided with a shaft I06 rigidly mounted in an upstanding portion of the base. Pivotally mounted on this shaft is an upstanding rocking frame I08. As shown in Figs. 1 and 13, cooperating with the eccentric S8 is a strap IIO. There is provided a telescoping pitman comprising a rod-like member I I Ia integral with the strap I I0 and a sleevelike member II lb pivotally attached to the rocking frame I08. The possible path of motion of the member I I lb is determined by a motion modifying means more fully described in said Patents 2,035,508 and 2,113,572 including an arm II2a pivotally attached to the member NH) and an arm I I21) pivotally attached to the arm H211 and carried rigidly on the end of a shaft II3, journalled for rotative adjustment in the base. As

described in the last-mentioned patents, rotation of the lower drive shaft 82 causes the rocking frame I08 to rock on the shaft I06 so as to provide a back and forth feeding movement, and adjustment of the motion modifying means by means of the shaft II3 has the effect of controlling the amplitude. of rocking and hence the stitch length. For fixing the position of the shaft II3, as shown in Fig. 3 there is provided an arm II4 extending radially therefrom, and abutting this arm is a screw II6 threaded into the base, and having a knurled head II? for manual adjustment.

The feeding mechanism is provided with a feed bar I IS pivotally connected at an axis II9 to the rocking frame I63. The feed bar II8 carries at its free end a feed dog I20, attached by suitable means. Rigidly attached to the feed bar is a curved, downwardly-extending member I22, having pivotally attached thereto at its free end an upwardly extending link I24. The shaft 82 is provided at its end with a crank, not shown, and the upper end of link I24 is pivotally attached to this crank and adapted to be driven eccentrically thereby. The link I24 together with the member I22 in turn causes the feed bar to pivot about the axis -I I9 so as to provide an up-anddown motion, and a four-motion feeding movement of the feed dog results from this motion,

combined with the'rocking motion of the frame I03, produced, as previously described by the action of eccentric 88. For further details reference may be made to the aforementioned Patents 2,035,508 and 2,113,572.

It is to beobs'erved that the feed bar II8 projects through an opening I26 in a portion of the frame, and it is desirable that lubricant from bearings and other parts of the rear of this portion not pass through this opening. For this purpose, there are slidably mounted on the feed bar I I8 a pair of gasket-like discs I28, and there is provided a spring I30 mounted on the frame by means of a screw I32 and adapted to press the discs I28 into contact wtih the frame around the edge of the opening I26 so as to prevent lubricant from passing through this opening.

Reference is made to Fig. 1. Mounted in the wall 26a which extends across the arm 24 is a bushing I33, and there is mounted in the head 26 a bushing I34 of porous metal, such as oilite, axially aligned with the bushing I33. Mounted for rotation in these bushings is a shaft I35. Mounted on the shaft to the left of the bushing I33 by means of a screw is a thrust collar I36. Mounted on the shaft I35 within the reservoir 58 to the right of the bushing I34 is a gear I31. The collar-I36 and the gear I3'I, together with the bushings I33 and I34 prevent endwise motion of the shaft I35. Mounted on the main drive shaft 5'I' within the reservoir 58 is a gear I38 cooperating with the gear I31. The number of teeth on the gears I31 and I38 respectively is the same, so as to provide a one-to-one ratio, as shown in Fig. 5. The machine is provided with rotary thread take-up means of the type described in United States Patent Application Serial No. 702,483, filled October 10, 1945, by Charles F. Rubel. Only a general description of such means will be given in the present application, since details are given in the prior application. The shaft I35 serves as the actuating shaft of the rotary thread take-up means, and carries at its left-hand end as shown in Fig. 1 an enlarged disc-like portion or flange I39, which is preferably integral with the shaft. To the flange I39 is secured a rotary take-up member or cam I40 in any suitable way, as by screws not shown. The member I40 is of flat plate-like construction, and

; has its outer edge in the form of a smooth twolobed cam surface. To reduce its weight, this member is cut out to a suitable extent. Eccentrically mounted on the member I40 is a threadengaging take-up element I42 which may be attached to the member I40 by means of riveted portions at the base of the element I42. The element I42 thus travels around a circular orbit as the cam I40 is rotated about the axis of the shaft I35.

As shown in Fig. 4, mounted on the head 26 is an apertured thread guide I44. The machine as shown in Fig. 1 is provided with thread-carrying means which may be appropriately mounted on top of the standard 22, a part of such threadcarrying means being designated as I46 in that figure. The thread will pass from such means through the thread guide I44, the thread-tensioning means 53, over a check wire I46 forming part of such means, and around a thread guide I48 provided with a crooked downwardly extending arm.

It then passes over the edge of the cam I40, which is protected by rim-like hood I50 having an opening I5Ila therein. There is provided a thread guide I52 which then receives the thread, and which cooperates with the guide I48 in holding the thread against the cam I40. The thread then passes over the take-up element I42 and downwardly through the needle. For more complete details of the rotary take-up mechanism,

reference is'made to the aforementioned Rubel application Serial No.702,483.

As a part of the present invention, within the head 26 there is provided an oil reservoir ISll. v As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the reservoirs Ifid and 58 may be partly separated by an upstanding wall or ridge I62, being in direct communication above this ridge. They may, as shown, have a common ceiling, and the reservoir I60 may be a relatively shallow reservoir located at an elevation above that of the reservoir 58;

and above the bearing surfaces of the parts within the head to be lubricated. The frame may be provided with a removable cover plate I6I for the purpose of access to the reservoirs -8 and I60. The ridge I62 is provided witlian opening, such as a slot, indicated at I 63, through which oil in the reservoir I60 may slowly drain into the reservoir 58. This drainage is of importance chiefly when the machine is not running. When the machine is operating, the gears I38 and I3l will splash oil from the reservoir 58 into the reservoir Hill. Reference is made to Fig. 7 aswell as Fig. 1. There is provided a tube or conduit I64 passing from the reservoirifiil through a portion of the head into the cavity 60 of the head. A

wick I66 leads from the reservoir I 8t through this tube into the cavity for delivering oil to vari-.- ous moving parts within the cavity, the lower end of the wick I66 being disposed in the path of certain of said moving parts. When the machine is' not operating, the drainage of oil from the reservoir I60 through the slot I63 as mentioned above avoids the possibility of any appreciable quantity of oil leaking from this reservoir into the cavity 50, as via the wick I66 and the tube Around the needle bar 28 in the region where it extends downwardly outside the head 26 is an oil-tight bushing I68 to prevent oil from leaking along the needle bar'onto the work. The lower part of the head 26 is shaped to form a sump I!!! in which oil draining from various moving parts may collect.

In order to avoid any tendency for oil in the bottom of the head to leak downwardly along the needle bar or the presser bar onto the Work, and

be provided a conduit or tube I14 leading up-.

wardly from this sump and connected by an appropriate oil-tight connection Iidto the lefthand end of the bore I12. The connection I78" may be provided with a ball check valve- 18!). There is provided a duct I82 through a portion of the head leading from the bore I12 into the upper reservoir I60, comprising'the outlet of the" pump. This duct may be provided with a ball" check valve IM-relying upon the force of gravity to seat the ball. A plate W5, provided with an opening I86, maybe secured to the'upper end'of the duct I 82 for the purpose of preventing the ball from escaping completely from the duct I8 2 if the machine is' turned on its side or upside down, as during shipping; The opening I86 serves to prevent-the plate I85 from blocking the passage-of oil from the duct I 82 into-the res iii ervoir I611. There is provided-a piston or plunger I88, fitted into the bore I72 of the wall 26b, extending to the right thereof into the cavity 58, and adapted for horizontal reciprocation in the bore I72. Reference is made to Fig. 5. Mounted on the shaft 44, which actuates the presser bar, is a radially-extending arm I90. The rear wall of the arm 24 is provided on its inner side with a projection I92, and threaded into the wall at this projection is a screw I94; the shank of which is adapted to serve as a pivot. Pivotally carried by this screw is a bell crank lever I95, having arms I96a and I961), both extending generally radially from the screw I94, and a generally horizontal portion I960 extending from the free end of the arm I9Bb in a direction generally parallel to the screw iM. The arm I90 carried by the shaft 44 is adapted to engage the arm I961; of the bell crank lever, and the portion Illtc of the bell crank lever is adapted to engage the end ofthe piston I88 extending into the reservoir 58. When the rod 43 ismoved downwardly by the operator, such as in lifting the presser bar by means of a treadle, the shaft '44 is caused to rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5, thereby causing the bell crank lever I96 to pivot in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6', with the result that the piston I88 is moved toward the left as shown in Fig. 6. There is provided within the bore I72 a spring Ifidengaging on its left a portion of the inlet check valve means I and engaging on its right the left hand end of the piston I88, as seen in Fig. 6. When the rod 43 is moved upwardly by the operator, the pump performs a suction stroke, the spring I98 serving to move the piston I88 toward the right. The pump thus serves intermittently to deliver oil from the lower part of the, cavity within the head to the receiver I60.

As shown in Fig. '7, there is provided a generally vertical bore 200 leading downwardly from the reservoir I60 to the porous bushing ill of the shaft 51 and as shown in Fig. 1, a somewhat similar bore 202 leads from this reservoir to the bushing I34 of the shaft I35. Since both these bushings are of porous metal construction, oil reaching them can penetrate to the respective shafts which they carry.

As shown in Fig. 1, there is provided a vent tube 204 leading from the upper part of the reservoir Hill to the cavity 60. The upper end of this vent tube is above the surface of the oil in the reservoir I66. The'upper edge of the ridge I62 comprises an upper limit for the surface of the oil in reservoir I60, since oil may flow over this ridge, as well as through the slot therein. In order to assure that oil will not leak directly through the vent tube 206, the upper end of this tube should be higher than the topof the ridge I62. The purpose-oi the vent tube is to equalize air pressure between the reservoir I66 and the cavity 6, thereby preventing air locking of the oil supply.

In examining the operation of the machine it'inay be assumed that from some previous operation "the wick I66 retains a certain amount of oil. There may be relatively little oil in the reservoir ltd, a considerable portion-oi the oil previously therein having drained through the slot I53 in the wall it?! back into the reservoir 58. When the machine is started, the gears 38 and I3! quickly splash a considerable quantity of oil from the reservoir 58 into the reservoir I622. The wick Itfi, disposed in the path of certain parts-within the cavity 63, delivers oil to bearing surfaces of various parts therein. Oil drains through the bores 200 and 2H2 to the bushings GI and I34, respectively, so as to lubricate the bearing surfaces of said bushings and the shafts 51 and I35. Whenever the operator operates the presser bar, oil is pumped by the means previously described, upwardly from the region I'll] of the cavity 6|) through the tube I14 into the reservoir I60, thus preventing the accumulation of oil in the lower part of the head, and replenishing the oil in the reservoirs. When the machine is stopped, oil is no longer delivered to the reservoir I60 by the gears I31 and I38, and in a short time most of the oil in that reservoir will drain through the slot I63 into the reservoir 58.

It may be noted that in the illustrated em-' bodiments the slot I63 extends to the bottom of the reservoir I60. As a result, the slot I63 is capable of draining substantially all of the oil out of the reservoir I60 when the machine is not running, which is advantageous. If an embodiment is employed in which the slot I63 or other drainage conduit leading to the reservoir 58 does not extend all the way to the bottom of the reservoir I60, then any means such as the wick I66, together with its tube I64, adapted to convey oil to certain bearing surfaces only when the machine is running, should be arranged at such an elevation within the reservoir I60 that they do extend below the lower extremity of the slot I63 within this reservoir. With such a construction, the slot I63 would be capable of lowering the surface of the oil within the reservoir I60 sufficiently to stop undesired conduction of oil to movable parts when the machine is not running.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a machine having a rotary thread take-up, it can with slight modification be applied to machines using a reciprocating thread take-up, as shown in Figs. 8-12. In this embodiment, the rotary shaft I35 is omitted. In Figs. 8, 10, and 11 the head proper, that is, the casting itself, is of the same type as that shown in previous figures, this casting being adaptable for use interchangeably in machines of the rotary thread take-up type or the reciprocating thread take-up type. As a consequence there are certain bores in the casting which, although useful for receiving bushings of the rotary takeup shaft in the first described embodiment, serve no useful purpose in the present illustration and which are fitted with plugs 206 and 208. On the shaft 51, there may be provided a disc-like member 2), instead of a gear I38. This member serves the purpose of whipping or splashing oil upwardly from the reservoir 58 into the reservoir I 60.

On the left-hand end of the shaft 51 there is provided a rotary actuator 62a adapted to serve the double purpose of causing the needle bar to reciprocate vertically and driving a recip-.

rocating thread take-up, to be described. The actuator is of the type described in'United States Patent 2,324,598 granted July 20, ;-.-1943,=.to George Sauer, and differs but slightly from the-actuator 62 previously described. As shown in Fig. 10, there is provided a plate 64a secured to the end of the shaft 51, and an element 63a, corresponding to the elements 64 and 63 respectively of the previously embodiment. Corresponding to the pin 65 of the previous embodiment there is provided a pin 65a in the present embodiment, carried by the member 63. The rotation of the shaft 51 causes this pin to move in a circular arc. Reference may be made to Figs. 9 and 12. These figures are consistent with Figs. 8 and 10 in principle of operation, but the shape of the various elements is slightly different. As shown in Fig. 12, the pin 650: carries a short arm ZIZ projecting radially therefrom and rigidly secured thereto or integral therewith. Pivotally connected to the arm 2I2 by a shoulder screw 2M is a link 68a, corresponding to the link 68 described in connection with the previous embodiment, and serving to actuate the needle bar for vertical reciprocation. There is provided a thread take-up lever generally indicated at 2H3, having a generally downwardly extending arm 2I8, pivotally connected to the pin a and held in place thereon by a collar 220, which is secured to the pin. The thread take-up lever also has a thread-carrying arm 222, rigidly connected with the arm 2I8. At the junction of these arms the lever is pivotally connected to a link 224, as shown in Fig. 9. This lever in turn is pivotally connected to a portion of the head. Since the rotary thread take-up is not used in this embodiment, the left-hand end of the head is closed by a cover plate 222, as shown in Fig. 10. For further details as to the principle of operation of the reciprocating thread take-up and actuating means therefor, reference may be made to the previously-mentioned Sauer Patent 2,32%598. As shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 11, the machine in both the rotary thread take-up and reciprocating thread take-up embodiments is provided with a transparent oil gauge 224 extending into the reservoir 58. This gauge may be of the same type as the gauge 8| previously described connection with the inner oil reservoir of the base.

The mode of operation of the present invention as applied to the reciprocating thread takeup machine is similar to that of the rotary thread take-up machine, except for the fact that in the reciprocating thread take-up machine, oil is impelled from the reservoir 58 into the reservoir I60 by the rotation of the disc 2IB, instead of by the action of the gears I38 and 53'! of the other embodiment. In both embodiments there will be considerable agitation of the oil within the reservoir 58, and the oil will have a tendency to be thrown against the ceiling, as well as the walls, and will splash into the reservoir I69.

Because of the combination of the lubricating features within the head and the lubricating features within the base as herein described, the machine is capable of operating at extremely high speeds over long periods of time with little attention.

While asuitable form of apparatus and certain modifications have been suggested, it will be understood that numerous changes may be made without departing from the general principles and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In asewing machine having a frame, an overhanging hollow arm terminating in a hollow head, and needle-actuating means in said head, a head lubricating system located-entirely toward the head end of said hollow arm, comprising, in combination, a plurality of adjacent oil reservoirs partly separated by an upstanding wall but in direct communication above said wall, a splasher in a first of said reservoirs adapted to splash oil into a second of said reservoirs, said wall having a normally-open passage therethrough adapted to allow oil to drain from said second reservoir directly back into said first res-.

asoms'sc ervoir, and conducting means'leading from said second reservoir into the. cavity of said head, adapted to deliver oil from said second reservoir to bearing surfaces of said needle-actuating mean-s at a lower rate than the rate or drainage of oil through said passage in said wall, whereby when said splasher is stopped, oil is drained from said secondfreservoir through said passage into said. first reservoir rapidly enough to prevent flooding of'oil from said second reservoir through said conducting means into the cavity of said head. I v

' 2. Ina sewing machine having an overhanging arm terminating in a hollow head and movable parts in said head, and a wall transverse of said arm, a head lubricating system, comprising upper and lower adjacent oil reservoirs communicating with one'another through a common opening in their upper regions, a splasher for impelling oil from said lower reservoir through said opening into said upper reservoir, an oil outlet means leading from said upper oil reservoir into said hollow head for lubricating said movable parts, a dual-purpose upstanding wall, said wall partly separating said reservoirs below said opening and serving, while said splasher is operating, to retain sufficient oil in said upper reservoir to provide a continuous supply of oil to said oil outlet means, but said wall being provided with a slot extending from its upper surface approximately to the bottom of said upper reservoir, adapted to conduct oil at a greater rate of flow than said oil outlet means, to allow substantially all the oil in said second reservoir to drain. back into saidlower reservoir when said machine is stopped.

3. In a sewing machine having a frame, an overhanging hollow arm terminating in a hollow head, and needle-actuating means in said hollow head, a lubricating system located entirely at the head end of said arm, comprising a first oil reservoir, a second shallower oil reservoir located at a higher elevation, in communication with said first reservoir, a continuously-operating rotary splasher in said first oil reservoir adapted to splash oil into said second reservoir, a first oil conduit leading from said second reservoir into said head for lubricating said needle actuating means, a restricted oil conduit leading from the lower part of said second reservoir directly to said first reservoir adapted to drain oil from said second reservoir into said first reservoir at a rate less than that at which oil is splashed into said second reservoir and greater than the rate of conduction of said conduit leading into said head, to prevent oil from flooding from said upper reservoir into said head when said machine is stopped, and an intermittently-operat ing pump adapted to deliver drainage oil from the lower region of said head directly to said second oil reservoir.

4. In a sewingmachine having a frame, in-.

cluding an overhanging head having a cavity therein and various movable parts within said cavity, a head-lubricating system, said system being entirely separate from any lubricating system for other parts of said machine, and comprising, in combination, a first oil reservoir and a second, higher, oil reservoir communicating therewith, both within said head, said reservoirs having a common ceiling, an upstanding ridge between said reservoirs, rotary means within said first reservoir adapted to splash oil over said ridge into said second reservoir when said machine is running, oil conducting means having 14; an entrance invthe lowermortion. of said second reservoir ,and'leading downwardly therefrom tosaid movable parts, .andintermittently acting pump meansxadapted to deliver drainage oil from the lower. portion of .said cavity tosaid second reservoir, said upstanding ridge having an open slotv therein adaptedv to allow oil tordrain from said second reservoir into, saidv first at a rate less than .thatat which said .oilis splashed into. said second reservoir, andgreater than the rate of conduction of said oil conducting means, the elevation of, the. bottom of said slot being no greater than the elevation of said entrance to said oil conductingmeans, whereby when said machine is not running, said slot may lower the level of oil in said second reservoir and prevent oil from flooding through said conducting means into lower portions of said head.

5. In a sewing machine having a hollow head, movable parts therein, a rotary shaft for actuating' said parts and a bearing for said shaft, a self-sufiicient head-lubricating system comprising, in combination, a lower oil reservoir, an upper oil reservoir, means continuously transmitting oil from said lower oil reservoir into said upper oil reservoir when said machine is running, oilconducting means including a wick leading from said upper oil reservoir into the path of certain of said movable parts, additional oil-conducting means leading from a lower region of said upper oil reservoir to said bearing for said shaft, and a restricted oil conduit leading from said upper reservoir directly to said lower reservoir capable of conducting oil more rapidly than said wick, adapted to drain oil from said upper oil reservoir directly into said lower reservoir when said machine is not running.

6. In a sewing machine having a base, an overhanging head, a stitching mechanism, a presser bar, and actuating means within said head, a head lubricating system, said head lubricating system comprising, in combination, an upper and a lower oil reservoir, both near said head, separated partly by an upstanding wall but in direct communication above said wall, rotary means within said lower reservoir adapted to splash oil upwardly into said upper reservoir, a wick leading downwardly from said upper reservoir into the path of certain of said actuating means within said head, an oil drainage sump in the lower portion of said head at an elevation below said first and second reservoirs, pump means for delivering drainage oil from said sump directly to said upper reservoir, and means for manually operating said pump means andsaid presser bar together.

7. A head-lubricating system for a sewing machine of the type comprising a base, a vertical standard, an over-hanging hollow arm terminating in a hollow head, and moving parts within said head, said head-lubricating system being located entirely at the head end of said over-hanging arm and comprising,.in combination, a first, relatively deep oil reservoir located at a height generally intermediate the top and bottom of said head, a second shallower oil reservoir extending from and communicating with said first reservoir near the top thereof, located generally near the upper part of said hollow head, a con- 15 16 a sump in the lower portion of said head at an- 7 REFERENCES CITED elevation beneath both said reservoirs, adapted The following references are of record in the to collect drainage oil, a manually operable pump fil of this patent; adapted to return oil from said sump directly to said second reservoir, an oil conduit leading 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS from the bottom of said second reservoir di- Number Name Date rectly to said first reservoir for draining said sec 11220310 Alquist, M 27, 1917 (and reservoir when said machine is stopped, and 17 ,043 Fl kenstein et a1, Oct, 17, 1939 a wall extending transversely of said arm, sealm 2,223,471 Walman et a1. Dec, 3, 1940 ing said head lubricating system from said 2,273,146 Sauer et al. Feb. 1'7, 1942 standard and said base. 2,323,422 Sauer et all July 6, 1943 CLARENCE C. SMITH, 2,393,315 Sauer et a1. Jan. 29, 1946 

